Chapter 328: [Another Perspective] A Large Ship in the Royal Capital!

[Bellrinet]

We had guests last night, so I ended up staying awake until quite late. For that reason, I had given orders not to let anyone into my room this morning, but…

“Your Majesty, forgive the intrusion so early in the morning.”

I heard a knock on the bedroom door, followed by a man’s voice. Normally, this is a role for an attendant servant, but no matter how I thought about it, it was the voice of a middle-aged man. I couldn’t tell clearly through the door, but it was likely not a servant.

In times like these, it is often a grave report. Suppressing the urge to complain, I quickly threw a mantle over my shoulders and turned toward the door.

“It is unlocked. Enter.”

Giving permission to enter, the door opened from the outside. Standing there was Prime Minister Aperta. Looking at me, Aperta narrowed his eyes with an exasperated expression.

“Oh my, Your Majesty. Have you truly just verified your wakefulness? I thought quite some time had passed since the sun rose, yet your hair is still in disarray…”

“I have no desire to hear your sarcasm first thing in the morning. What has happened?”

Snorting at Aperta, who was in top form right from the start of the day, I complained while asking for his business. Then, Aperta furrowed his brows in displeasure and sighed.

“There was a request for an audience from Count Panamera as an envoy of the House of Marquis Rosso this morning, but more importantly than that…”

“Count Panamera as an envoy of the House of Marquis Rosso? I do not understand the meaning of that, but is there something else besides?”

When I asked back, Aperta’s expression changed completely, nodding with a face like he had found a toy.

“Do you wish to hear it?”

“Speak quickly, hurry.”

Aperta shook his shoulders happily when I grew impatient. Who was the one who made this man with such a nasty personality the Prime Minister?

“A mysterious ship has suddenly appeared on the coast of this Royal Capital.”

“A ship…? A shipwreck? They must be the possessor of considerable luck.”

Very rarely, a fisherman’s small boat gets swept away. In such cases, within the waters of this area, they sometimes drift ashore in the south. In most cases, those on board are dead, but could it be they are alive?

I asked for confirmation thinking that, but Aperta looked at me with pity.

“Your Majesty. Has your intuition dulled as you have aged? How piteous.”

“I’ll send you flying, you scoundrel.”

I unintentionally complained in my natural tone. At that, Aperta laughed out loud.

“Ooh, Your Majesty. You have suddenly rejuvenated. It feels as though I have heard a nostalgic voice, and I feel very good today. My, my, wahahaha.”

Laughing, Aperta tried to leave the room.

“Talk about the ship! About the ship!”

I unintentionally stomped the floor hard and shouted. What is with Aperta today? He is more troublesome than usual. This goes beyond lèse-majesté to the crime of insulting the Royal Family. Should I work Aperta hard for a year without a single holiday?

Seeing the angry King, Aperta spoke with an aloof attitude.

“Ah, I had forgotten. The ship appeared on the coast this morning and is already anchored. The size of the ship is unlike anything ever seen, and its total length is likely nearly one hundred meters.”

“One hundred…!? Could that be the same ship as the large ship that reportedly appeared in Marquis Rosso’s territory!?”

Upon receiving Aperta’s report, genuine anger welled up this time. Why is this man making such an important report with that kind of attitude? There have been three reports from the House of Marquis Rosso up to now: the first stated a large ship anchored in nearby waters; the second stated that an envoy appeared from the large ship; and the third was about an unknown maritime nation. I had told them to investigate carefully regarding this, but to think a large ship would appear all the way at the Royal Capital.

“Why are you so calm? Has the crew of that ship not disembarked?”

When I asked in a low voice, Aperta crossed his arms and showed signs of trying to remember something. Then, with a startled face, he spoke.

“Ah, come to think of it… there was also a report that Viscount Van’s figure was seen on the deck of that mysterious ship. Since it is a report from a knight who went for reconnaissance, the credibility is likely high.”

“What, Viscount Van!? Ooh, so that is it! The story of a mysterious ship appearing in Marquis Rosso’s territory—Viscount Van has a hand in it, doesn’t he! Mm, I cannot stay like this! I shall head to the ship immediately!”

Saying that, I went out into the hallway and called the attendants waiting outside.

“We are leaving immediately! Prepare!”

“Y-Yes!”

The maids hurriedly entered the room and began preparing my clothes. When I happened to look at Aperta, he wore a smile like a villain and turned on his heel.

“In that case, I shall go ahead and scout the ship.”

“Wh-What did you say!? That is unfair, Aperta!”

“No, no, since I will confirm if there is any danger, please take your time coming, Your Majesty. Wahahaha.”

Letting a loud laugh echo in the hallway, Aperta walked away quickly. What a guy. Who was the one who gave that man the important role of Prime Minister?